WEEKLY eNEWS: Grants, Events, Webinars, Resources, Lagniappe

2012-2013 SCHOOL SUSTAINABILITY GRANTS PROGRAM UPDATE (DEADLINE: OCTOBER 1)
The School Sustainability Grant Application’s narrative questions have been prepared as text (attached below and added to the LEEC website) so that you can preview them prior to registering. Please remember, however, that you can only submit your application via the LEEC Registration System.

EVENTS

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Free Rio Removal Rodeo!
On September 29, 2012 LDWF is hosting an invasive species awareness event. This includes a free fishing rodeo to help reduce the number of invasive Rio Grande Cichlids in New Orleans. The rodeo consists of Adult, Team (up to 10 participants), and Youth (12 & under) divisions. Winners will be determined by the total number of Rio Grande Cichlids caught. Registration begins at 5:30 am at the Old Casino Building in New Orleans City Park. Pre- registration can also be completed at www.wlf.la.gov/rio-registration. The first 100 registrants receive a FREE “Rigged and Ready” rod and reel courtesy of CCA Louisiana. Fish weigh in closes at 11:00am. In addition to the rodeo, numerous activities will be available from 9:00am to 1:00pm at the City Park Old Casino Building and Popp Bandstand. Activities include Louisiana fish and invasive species information, casting lessons, fly fishing demonstrations, free giveaways and much more! For additional information visit www.wlf.la.gov/rio-registration or LDWF’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ldwffb.

Save Our Shore: Volunteer for the Coast with Abita Beer and CRCL
The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) and Abita Beer invite you to participate in “Save Our Shore: Volunteer for the Coast,” Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012 at Grand Isle State Park on Grand Isle. Hurricane Isaac’s impact in August washed away many of the dunes along the park’s shoreline, which is critical to the protection of wetlands and communities there. This storm was just the latest hit that Grand Isle has taken, having sustained prior damage from 2011’s Tropical Storm Lee and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Disaster. Help us save this important stretch of Louisiana coast by volunteering to install dune fences and plant dune grass, which helps stabilize the fragile beach along Grand Isle. Where: Grand Isle State Park, Admiral Craik Dr. Grand Isle, LA 70358When: Saturday September 29, 2012, 9:00 a.m. to no later than 4:00 p.m.Click HERE to register for the event.
Minimum age for volunteers is 10, but all minors must be accompanied by an adult. All equipment (shovels, gloves, hammers, etc.) will be provided. Lunch and drinks will be provided to all volunteers. Abita will be on hand to provide additional refreshments to participants over 21. We request that all volunteers please register to let us know if you plan to attend. You can complete an online registration form at the www.crcl.org or call the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana at 1-(888)-LACOAST for more information. Visit www.crcl.org for more information.

Webinar on Solar Energy for Water and Wastewater Utilities on October 11
On Thursday, October 11, 2012, from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm EST, EPA will host a webinar on solar energy and water and wastewater utilities. The webinar will detail the process of implementing solar energy projects in such utilities, the various types of solar technologies available, and where they can be most appropriately used, while highlighting innovative funding approaches (including those with no up-front capital requirements) that result in long-term energy cost savings and stability. The webinar will present the case study of a successful solar installation at a small water utility in Grafton, Massachusetts. Click here to register for this free webinar. For additional information, please contact Jim Horne at (202) 564-0571 or horne.james@epa.gov. Slides of two previous webinars on this topic can be viewed here.

RESOURCES

Quick Facts about Mosquito Life Cycle, Breeding, and Water Sources
Once mosquitoes find a suitably polluted puddle of water, they lay eggs. Eggs take about a day to hatch and the larvae 5-8 days at 30 degrees C (86 deg F). Once they pupate it’s another 36 hours before the adult emerges. Its 10-14 days typically for development. Standing water must remain for about that length of time before it is likely to breed mosquitoes. Clean water is not so much an issue, but if rain water is mixed with leaves and/or soil and sits in the sun for a week or so, it gets pretty attractive for mosquitoes. In addition, water where fish are present, such as a pond or permanent stream is not usually a big source of mosquitoes. Information is provided by AgriLife.Remember the 4 D’s
DUSK/DAWN- Stay indoors at Dusk/Dawn. This is the time of day that mosquitoes are most active.DEET-Use insect repellents that contain DEET when going outside, especially at times closer to dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active.DRAIN - Remove all areas of standing water. Examples are pet dishes, birdbaths, and water dishes under potted plants. Repair faulty French drains. Remove debris from rain gutters. Mosquitoes will breed in this debris since it is normally damp under the debris. Remove all piles of dead leaf material from under trees and shrubs. This also is a breeding site.DRESS- Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by wearing light colored long sleeved shirts and long pants when going outside.Mosquito Resource Websites• Mosquito management plans: http://www.extension.org/pages/20999/school-ipm-action-plan-for-mosquitoes• Poster, flyer, or other information to hand out to teachers, parents or students, including a sample letter you can send home to parents: http://schoolipm.tamu.edu/forms/public-health-pests-information-resources/• Information about West Nile Virus or other infectious diseases, visit the Dept. of State Health Services website: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/arboviral/westnile/information/special/schools/default.asp• YouTube videos on mosquito prevention and control by Dr. Mike Merchant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEqv3h03cSY&feature=bf_prev&list=PL601F08778CC0167C• For Frequently Asked Questions about aerial spraying for mosquitoes, see http://citybugs.tamu.edu/2012/08/14/faqs-about-aerial-spraying/• Mosquito Safari is an Extension website with general information about mosquito identification, biology and control, including an interactive tour of common mosquito breeding sites, great site to share with teachers, parents and students: http://mosquitosafari.tamu.edu/index.swf

Get a Bird’s-Eye View of Hurricane Isaac Damage on the Coast
As Louisiana recovers from Hurricane Isaac, there are a number of sites available that provide extraordinary images of the storm’s damage to coastal Louisiana. Here are some good examples:This interactive satellite map from USGS displays before and after shots of the Louisiana coast taken by satellite. The path of Isaac’s eye wall is clearly marked, so that you may follow the storm’s path in great detail, mile by mile.USGS also offers some stunning aerial shots of hurricane damage and marsh dieback taken during a post-storm flyover of Louisiana. These shots are also organized in an interactive map. Just click on the damaged area to see an aerial photograph.NOAA has also released aerial photos which detail flooding in Plaquemines Parish, as well as shoreline damage to Elmer’s Island and several barrier islands.

Integrate Environmental Education and STEM
If you are trying to figure how to integrate environmental and STEM education, then you might want to review the free downloadable guides from The Pacific Education Institute (PEI) and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in the state of Washington. The following guides can help you get your students “learning by doing” and working with real-life environmental problems. Check the PEI website www.pacificeducationinstitute.org to access these guides:• Fostering Outdoor Observation Skills,• Schoolyard Biodiversity Investigations Educator Guides,• Landscape Investigation Guidelines,• Field Investigations: Using Outdoor Environments to Foster Student Learning of Scientific Processes,• Sustainable Tomorrow–Applying Systems Thinking to Environmental Education Curricula for Grades 9-12, and• The Project-Based Learning Model: Relevant Learning for the 21st Century.

Find out about wetland outreach activities including symposiums, conferences, meetings, educational opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and related support material at the Louisiana Unified Coastal Community Calendar at http://lacoast.gov/calendar/